Page 229 of Dark Angel
“Also at the same time?” asked her dad.
“Yes,” Halston replied, “then back online simultaneously.”
“Sounds like someone was testing the grids,” her dad said. “The Russian woman instructed us to sync all the power grids in the country. They wanted them all to go out at the same time.”
“Turning them all back on when?” Gabriel asked.
“She didn’t give us that information,” her dad said. “She just wanted them off.”
“Who do you think was controlling the previous blackouts?” Halston asked.
“My best guess? Hackers testing the grids, along with the grids’ abilities,” her dad replied. “When they couldn’t get everything synced, they kidnapped us to do it.”
“Thank you both,” her mom said. “You saved us.”
“Poor Lars,” said her dad. “Losing him is devastating.”
Silence.
Death always put a pause in the conversation.
“I’m sorry for your loss,” Halston said.
“How did you know where we were?” her mom asked.
“I didn’t. The Russian woman kidnapped me,” Halston explained. “They needed a translator.”
“Gabriel, how did you get looped in?” her dad asked.
“It’s complicated,” he replied.
“I’ve always found the simplest answer works best,” said her dad.
Halston glanced back. “Dad, when you get started with physics problems, there’s no such thing as simple. No one ever knows what you’re talking about!”
The laughter was a godsend. For those few seconds, things felt normal. And then, Gabriel did the unexpected. He clasped her hand, gave it a gentle squeeze, and let go. She wanted to fly like a kite, tethered by a string to this man… forever.
In the darkened car, on the road illuminated by the caravan’s headlights, they shared a smile. A simple gesture that buoyed her spirits and gave her a sliver of hope that everything would turn out okay.
For the moment—this moment—that was all she needed.
“To answer your question, Dr. Devereux,” Gabriel began, “Halston was accused of being a spy. It was dangerous for her to return to the embassy, but your daughter is extremely brave. She’s also brilliant, stunningly beautiful, and very complicated.”
“I love him already,” her mom said, and another round of light-hearted laughter filled the car. “You’re right Gabriel. She’s all those things and so much more.”
“I’d given her a gift—” Gabriel continued.
Halston extended her arm, showing them her ring.
“That’s a wedding band,” her mom murmured.
“It’s very pretty, dear,” her dad said. “Is there something you both want to tell us?”
“Itisa gorgeous diamond ring, but it’s got a tracking device,” Halston explained.
“I’ve got one too,” Gabriel said, holding up his left hand. “When I realized Halston wasn’t at work, I looked on the app. She’d vanished, but when she left the bunker, she came online. That’s when I gave the rescue team her location and I took off to find her.”
“That was bold,” her mom said.
